This year’s 110^th Indianapolis 500 finished with the closest finish in the race’s history.

The race was highly competitive throughout, setting a record of 70 lead changes among 14 different drivers. Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist crossed the finish line just 0.0233 seconds ahead of David Malukas.

Attention goes to the photo finish, but it’s actually the work you do earlier in the race that can make all the difference.

I see that happening here in Genesee County, where the photos of graduates signing on with our manufacturing, agricultural, and construction trades come after years of training and a final push to the front of the pack.

Recent high school graduates and incumbent workers can get ahead of the competition at the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamp. This earn-as-you-learn program includes free classroom instruction in the morning and paid on-the-job co-ops in the afternoon.

Now is the time to sign up for sessions in mechatronics and welding careers.

Pre-apprenticeship instruction features state-of-the-art training equipment, an environment that will bring students along as they gain experience and show their progress. Electrical basics, motor controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, and programmable logic controls are among the topics they will gain during 96 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of on-the-job training

Upon completion of this summer program, many of our participants have gone on to registered apprenticeship programs with local employers. Oxbo in Bergen and Graham Manufacturing in Batavia have already signed on to bring pre-apprenticeship program students into their teams this summer.

I shared this blueprint with my family to highlight the importance of taking advantage of these opportunities. My nephew interned with Honda Racing through the mechanical engineering program at the University of Cincinnati. That led to a position as a trackside support engineer and this year he was part of Rosenqvist’s Indy 500 winning crew!

If you or someone you know is a recent high school or college graduate or has already started a career and is uncertain about a professional career, this program could be the right fit for you!

To learn more about or sign up for the Genesee Valley Pre Apprenticeship Bootcamp, contact me at 585-343-4866 or [email protected] or visit our page on Apprenticeship training programs.